How to Travel with Social Responsibility

As the tourism and travel industry grows, so to is our responsibility towards our fellow humans whom we meet while we are far from home. Even if we simply go to a luxurious beach side resort with no need to leave it to visit the surrounding community, our visiting a destination makes an impact. Here at Rasmussen Travels, we take great care in achieving towards a better place when we leave than when we arrive, if only in a small way. Through Rasmussen Cares, Social Responsibly is one of our core values. Therefore, it is our responsibility to make that impact a positive one and to leave a sustainable footprint behind us.

Research

You really should research into where you are going. Get to know it. Know the local customs, brush up on basic phrases in the local language, understand the culture, etc.

Best practices for this? Find a travel guide for the destination, such as at a library, your local travel agent, or Random Wanders. Be sure to be familiar with acceptable attire, greetings, and other cultural variances. This can be done alongside meal planning, tourist locations, etc, or getting ready for your Bon Voyage with Rasmussen Travels, who does that planning for you.

Practice Sustainability

These are things we try to do when planning a tour, and something you can do when you travel as well:

• Stay in locally owned and operated hotels. – This is also a benefit to having a small tour like Rasmussen Travels, but they are still hard to find. This helps maintain jobs in the locality, and the capital, being locally owned, stays in the locality as opposed to going off to Denham, UK (if owned by the InterContinental Hotel Group), Bethesda, MD (if owned by Marriott), etc. This helps to keep their local economy going, and helps to grow their standard of living.
• Use reusable items and reduce water and energy consumption. – This is something you can also practice at home. Drink water out of a reusable bottle, do not throw out your towel after one use, ask if you can have your drinks served in your reusable cups (if they primarily serve disposable cups, like in coffee shops), and bring a reusable shopping bad.
• Contribute to the local economy. – When travelling, you are going to want to get souvenirs. Try to get them from shops that are locally owned. Buy art made by local artists. Eat at local restaurants. Drink at local cafés and bars.
• Donate wisely. – Avoid giving money directly to children or others. Instead, reach out to local non-profits such as local food pantries, churches, outreach programs, etc.
• Respect the wildlife. – If you are in nature reserves, national parks, or the like, stay on the designated tours. Also, do not buy souvenirs made with parts from endangered plants and/or animals.

Rasmussen Travels tries to uphold its social responsibility by using its profits to give to invest in its trip destinations and in the local community we call home, and we encourage you to do the same.